Rail-clamp.



W. BERR & G, W. 1 081.

R M A L U n A R APPLIUATIOH FILED APR. 1(1910. 96,989.

Patented Aug.9,1910.

W. BERRY & G. W. POST.

I BAIL QLAMP. APPLIQATIOI FILED APR. 1, 1910.

. 966,989; Patented Aug; 9,1910a Mann-832m a.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFTCE. I

. WILLIAM BER-RY AND GEORGE: W. POST, 0F FOND IDU LAC, WISCUNSIN.

RAIL-CLAMP.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM BERRY and Gnome W. Pos'r, citizens of the United States, residing at Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to rail clamps intended to serve as safety devices to prevent the rails from tipping, spreading or creeping, but which do not take the place of the.

ordinary spikes for securing said rails to the ties.

Onset the objects of our invention is to rovide a clamp of this kind which is ad justable -.o tit different sizes of rails.

Another object is to improve the construction and arrangement of the fastening device for holding the adjustable jaw.

Still another and important object is to provide for the automatic depression of the clamp as the top of the tie wears away or the rail is driven down into the tie, whereby the clamp is at each levet-parallel with its, nntial position. In other words, ourclamp is adapted to automatically,adjust itself to the thickness of the tie, or the thickness of the portion of the tie below the rail, so that it always supports the rail in its proper upright position.

The general type ofthis clamp is similar to that showrraud described in the-pending application ofihlVilli-am Berry, filed November 6, 1909, Serial 'No. 526,608, in that it has the same lever extension, which, acting together withthe jaw bearing down upon the inner edge of the rail foot and the outer jaw which also supports the outer edge of said rail-foot, serves .to effectually prevent the rail from tipping outwardly. In our present invention, however, we have made one of the jaws adjustable and removable for the purpose already explained. This renders it unnecessaryto use the inclined-bottomed opening between the jaws. The base of the opening in our present inventionis straight and engages the full under surfaceoi the foot of the rail.

The clamp ispreferably made in skeleton form with laterally-projecting ribs of a iy suitable contour. Portions of these ribs Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed April 1,

Patented Aug. '9, twin.

1910. Serial no. scarce.

I form a pocket housing the end of the bolt and the nut which secure the movable jaw in place. The end of the lever extension is provided with a self-adjustin g fastening which permits the clamp to drop parallel with the top of the tie, for the purpose already explained.

The invention also consists the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a plan view of a. tie and a rail showing one i of our clamps as applied in use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the tie and clamp, the rail being shown in section. Fig. 3mis a section on the line w ss of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line y-y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a. broken detailed view of. the end of the lever extension of the clamp with the spring plate spring late, and Fig. 7 is a. view similar to F 1g. 2, ut showing a modified form of the clamp, the inner jaw of which is adjustable.

clamp may be said to comprise the body-portion 3, the lever extension 4;, and the inner and outer jaws and 6, respectively. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner jaw 5 is made integral with the clamp, while the outer jaw is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of rails. The rail illustrated is of medium size, itbeing understood that the larger ones.

The base 7 of the opening or space between the jaws has aprojection 8 extending beyond the movable jaw, as here shown, so that a larger rail with a broader foot may be inserted without having its feet extend beyond said projection. Said removable jaw is secured to the clamp by means of a bolt 9 having its head 10 arranged at the outside and its threaded end inserted through the end rib 11 into a pocket or housing 12 formed by other ribs 13. The nut 1 1- on the inner end of the bolt is pro tected in thispocket from any external object which might tend to loosen it.

When the medium size rail is used, a Washer 15, of suitable thickness, is placed between the shank of the adjustable jaw and the endrib 11. This gives a bearing for said j aw to rest against and prevents it from removed. Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the heterring more particularly to the draw-: lugs, 1 designates the rall and E2 the tie. The

clamp may-be used on smaller as well as tipping outwardly. Additional washers, or

thereinv an eloiigated vertical slot 16.

clamp to he depressed to a lower a single thicker washer, may be employed when the clamp is used on a larger rail. In the case of a smaller rail, the washer may be removed, if necessary, thereby bringing the shank of the jaw to bear directly upon the end rib 11. I

The end ofithe lever extension has formed Near each end of said slot there are formed a series of horizontal notches or serrations 17. These notches-are ratchet-shaped, the upper face of each being squared, while its lower face is beveled, as illustrated in Fig. i. A spring plate-l8 is fitted over. the slot 16 and is provided with turned ends 19 which engage the serrations l7. Said spring plate has a round opening 20 to fit the shank of the bolt or spike 21 which secures the lever ,extensionto, the side of the tie. When the clamp is first adjusted, the bolt or. spike is placed at the-lower end of the slot 16 where it will exert the downward pressure upon thefclamp which gives the pro er lever action for supporting the rail. '1 e placing of thdspike at this point also allows for the level parallel to its initial position if the top of the tie as en the the of a rail, and

into the tie wears-foil or the rail is driven Each time the clamp is below: surface.

depressed n this manner, one 'of the serrations-- notches l7 slips down below the turne nds.'of the spring plate which then snap into place in the next notch and by engagement with the squared upper side of the serrations support the clamp in position to give the proper lever action to the same advantage aswhen the securing spike engages the bottom of the slot 16.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, the inner jaw 22 is adjustable, the enter one 23 being made integral. The bolt 24 which holds the-inner jaw in place has its threaded endandnut housed in a pocket 25 formed he lever extension 28 is straight at the top andtorms a bearing for a lug or projection 27 on the movable aw. The same form of automatically adjustable fastening for the end of. the lever extension is here used,

preferred form.

rail clamp of the character described,

inner and outer jaws for engaging meansfor securing opening in said 5. A rail clamp to slide on said clamp to the side of a tie, said fastening means being automatically adjust-able to permit theclamp to be depressed parallel to its initial positionfor the'purpose specified.

2. A rail clamp of the character described, having inner and outer jaws adapted to engage the foot of a rail, a lever extension, and means for securing the end of said extension to the side of a tie, being automatically adjustable to permit the clamp to be depressed position for the purpose specified.

3. A rail clamp of the character described, having inner and outer jaws for engagin the foot of a rail, and a vertical elongated slot, horizontal serrations at the opposite ends of said slot, a spring plate having,its ends turned inward to engage said serrations and provided with a round opening through its center, and a securing 'bolt fitted in the spring plate and passed through the slot in the clamp whereby said spring is retained with its turned ends in engagement with said serrations for the purpose specified.

- 4. A rail clamp of the character described, having inner and outer jaws for engagin the foot of a rail, and a vertical elongated slot, horizontal serrations at the opposite ends of said slot, said serrations having their lower faces beveled and their upper faces squared, a spring plate having its ends turned inward to enga c said serrations and provided with a round opening through its center, and a securing bolt fitted in the opening in said spring plate and passed through the slot in the clamp whereby said spring is retainedwith its turned ends in engagementwith said serrations forthe purpose specified. of the character described, having an outer rigid jaw, an inward lever extension, an adjustable inner jaw adapted said lever extension, means to secure said housed in a to secure said lever extension to the side of a tie.

In testimony whercof,.we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

, WILLIAM BERRY? GEO W. POST. VVitnesses':

J ENNIn POST, A. B. SCHUOHARD'I.

said fastening means parallel to its initial adjustable jaw in place which is pocket in the clamp, and means 

